If you have been recently saddled with the task of outfitting your new living space, the options, and the cost, can be a bit overwhelming. Not only do you have literally thousands of choices to choose from, you likely have a limited budget in which to operate with, which can make getting everything you need for every room seem impossible. Here are a few helpful tips to get you through.

The most important tip is to think about versatility. If you buy a sofa bed, you have two pieces of furniture for one price. The same goes for a futon (and they do sell pads to help make sleeping on futons far more comfortable now.) You can help to maximize your spending dollar if you think about using items you buy in more than one way.

Depending on how large your city is, shopping at thrift stores and downscale antique stores can be a great way to save money. When you say the word antique to most people, they see dollar signs ringing up, but not every old piece of furniture is expensive. Hunt around and you can find some great deals.

Finally, check out online want ads like CraigsList to find real deals. Yours truly got a $1000 mattress and box spring set that had been slept in one time for $300 and a $500 love seat for $100. Depending on how active these boards are in your area, you can save thousands and thousands of dollars.